Great Tang Idyll - Volume 4 Chapter 231

One missing team of Tubo men wasn’t discovered until nighttime. This discovery wasn’t just one missing team—patrol riders from every area were missing. If someone counted the losses from these places, they would get one number: twelve.

Twelve squads of scouts disappeared just like that. No one found bodies, no one saw horses; sixty Tubo men vanished at once. The various Tubo divisions didn’t take it too seriously. After all, they didn’t go ask around elsewhere. If one squad was missing on their own side, it was very possible they had run into a wolf pack.

Such situations were very common in the grass and in the mountains. If hit by more than a dozen wolves in a sudden attack, those who reacted slowly wouldn’t have a chance to run back. The worst was being surrounded when dismounting to let people and horses rest.

Of course, there was another possibility: someone found fleeing civilians and ate and slept together with them. That sort of thing happened often. If someone wanted to pursue the matter, they would just say they had discovered what seemed like traces of the enemy and had chased for a whole day.

No one suspected much on that day. But if one squad going missing didn’t trigger any reaction, then three days in a row, with people disappearing each day, and the earlier ones still not having returned, then something was clearly wrong.

Zhang Ying and Zhang Lang searched for three days and still couldn’t find Tang troops. 

Shuiyun kept flying tirelessly, and besides searching for Tang troops, it would also report sightings of Tubo men to its master. Then it would be one eagle and two dogs coordinating with the two men to fight.

Usually, the eagle would dive from behind the enemy, grabbing one with its claws and snatching another with its beak. Zhang Ying and Zhang Lang would shoot with their crossbows. The remaining man would be handled by the two big dogs—one responsible for knocking him off the horse, the other for biting his throat.

Both sides were five-man squads, but Zhang Ying’s side relied on ambushes every time. They always discovered the enemy first, while the Tubo men were unlucky every time.

In three days, Zhang Ying’s five-man group wiped out forty squads of Tubo men, adding up to two hundred people. They also acquired two hundred horses. The two of them had lived in places with many horses before and knew how to handle horses, otherwise they really wouldn’t have been able to control them.

This time, the Tubo finally realized something was wrong. Squads of cavalry disappearing couldn’t possibly be caused by wolves or men finding women.

So the previously scattered cavalry began to pull back together. Five-man squads became ten-man squads. This change had some effect. Although they still couldn’t find who was ambushing them, none of their people were attacked that day—whoever went out came back.

But this only lasted one day. The next day, another small team failed to return, this time ten men and ten horses disappearing at once.

After Zhang Ying and Zhang Lang discovered that they could no longer wipe out ten-man squads like before, they thought for an entire day and finally came up with a method. Either Zhang Lang or Zhang Ying would put on Tubo clothing, find terrain like a hillside, and first dig a trap. One person would go in front to shout and lure the ten men over.

When all ten fell into the pit, or when part of them fell in, the two men and their trained animals would coordinate to kill the rest. That day, they handled three squads in the same place with the same method.

When they were dealing with the last squad, one man reacted quickly and ran off, mounted, intending to report back. Unfortunately, no matter how fast he reacted, his horse was still slower than the eagle. One dive took care of him.

On the sixth day after entering Tubo territory, after eliminating four more small squads, the two men took two hundred sixty-five horses and stopped their guerrilla attacks against the Tubo, continuing north instead.

Of the missing five horses, four fell into the trap and were buried. One was slaughtered by the five of them for food.

The Tubo were completely confused. How many people were attacking them? Could the Tang army’s main force be here? Only if the number of enemy scouts was more than five times theirs could they leave no one alive.

Thus, their search focus shifted back to the original place where Tata Neitu had been ambushed. Scouts were still arranged in ten-man squads, but now each squad had another squad following behind, not far away, barely able to see the ones ahead. This way, if something happened, they could shout or see it firsthand.

Wang Juan and Zhang Xiaobao had also rested with the troops for several days. All the rice had been harvested and threshed. Their treatment of the local civilians was also much better than before. And by speaking badly about the Tubo, they guided the civilians into speaking about how they themselves had been bullied before, making them hate the Tubo even more for stealing their goods and violating their women.

Two villages’ village heads were hanged—these two villages had previously helped a certain Tubo tribe bully people from their own village and had divided up their belongings. The civilians felt quite satisfied.

Wang Juan also had the doctors treating the civilians casually talk about how wonderful Yizhou was and how happy life there was. For single men, they talked about the beautiful women of Yizhou who liked men like them. For elderly people, they talked about a special place in Yizhou prepared for the elderly.

For families with children, they said that all children in Yizhou could study and learn to read without paying. For single women, they said Yizhou had many capable men who wanted to marry women like them. They didn’t even spare the children—after giving the children some rock sugar used for treating illness, they told them that Yizhou had much, much better candy than this.

The local civilians gradually surrendered under this kind of *** offensive. Look at the Tang soldiers—so good. They didn’t steal civilians’ things, didn’t ** their women, didn’t eat children’s hearts, helped with labor, and even treated illnesses.

They, of course, didn’t know that when the Tang rear units first arrived, they massacred each village they encountered.

On this day, after seeing that the wounded had mostly recovered—except for those who died, none of the severely injured would easily die on the road—Wang Juan prepared to create an opportunity for the civilians and the rear-supply personnel to escape back to Pengzhou.

There was actually another route, but Wang Juan wasn’t planning to let the civilians use it. That road was too difficult.

At dawn that day, Wang Juan had everyone begin preparations. At night they would depart. Those who needed to sleep slept, those who needed to pack packed. The last batch of clothes was washed, and when dry that night, wearing them would at least be better than before when they carried the stench of blood.

At noon, a small black dot appeared in the sky. Something below seemed to attract it, so it lowered its altitude. When the villagers saw clearly that it was an eagle, it turned and flew away.

Wang Juan and Zhang Xiaobao also saw the eagle. They felt something seemed off about its movements. They took a telescope to look carefully but still couldn’t tell what was wrong.

Thirty li from the village, Zhang Ying and Zhang Lang waited with their two dogs. Their herd of horses had gained another twenty, but the two men were wounded. They had run into a group of Tubo cavalry with ten men in front and ten in back. Because the horse herd was too obvious, they had been spotted.

Unable to hide, the two sent the horse herd charging first, then abandoned the crossbows to shoot with bows against the Tubo. When arrows ran out, the two fire-lances they carried were fired. The sleeve-arrows were also used up. Covered in both blade wounds and arrow wounds, they barely won. Even Qian’en’s skull was hacked open enough to reveal bone. After stopping the bleeding, it lay in its master’s arms.

Shuiyun had been released originally to see if enemies were coming again or were nearby, but it instead discovered Tang military clothing drying in the village. After circling to confirm, it returned.

After a simple exchange with Shuiyun, Zhang Ying happily said to Zhang Lang: “Quick, let’s go. I’ve found our army, right ahead. Hurry.”

As he spoke, he lifted Wan’en onto the horse. Zhang Lang did the same with Qian’en. The two of them rode toward the village with two hundred eighty-five horses.

Thirty li on fast horses didn’t even take an hour. When they were six li from the village, the No.0 watch team had already seen them.

They felled a tree, and those behind repeated the same action. When Zhang Ying and Zhang Lang were five li from the village, the villagers began preparing. The drying clothes were taken down, people hid in cellars, and the front sentries found places to hide themselves.

Thus, when Zhang Ying and Zhang Lang arrived at the village, they were stunned. The village was peaceful. Children played with mud by the river. An old man crouched by a stone scraping hides. A woman stood outside the fence holding a basin of laundry, chatting with another woman inside.

“Shuiyun, where are the Tang troops?” Zhang Ying stared blankly at the scene, suddenly doubting his own falconry skills. Had their communication gone wrong?

Shuiyun, when it was in the sky, had seen people hiding, but it couldn’t speak and couldn’t clearly express that. It looked at Zhang Ying, then at the house where the person carrying clothes had gone, flapping anxiously.

Luckily, the team didn’t only have one eagle; the two big dogs also had sharp ears and noses, and were quite clever. They both barked loudly toward the house at once.

Zhang Ying turned to look at Zhang Lang, meaning: did the dogs find something?

“People,” Zhang Lang said only two words.

Actually, Zhang Ying didn’t need him to say it. He already knew there were people—many people, armed, probably coming out once they saw the two of them.

“Don’t shoot. We are tenants of Zhang Family Estate in Sanshui County, now under Yizhou logistics camp. Look, here’s the proof.”

Zhang Ying lifted the Tubo clothing he wore. Underneath was the rice-seedling insignia.

He also showed the fire-lance at his waist, and feeling it wasn’t enough, he opened his pack, showing binoculars, compressed biscuits, medical kit—everything—to prevent the other side’s hands from trembling and shooting.

Seeing item after item, the people opposite lowered their crossbows. They were indeed their own people. Outsiders couldn’t have such complete equipment.

When Zhang Ying and Zhang Lang exhaled in relief, Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan walked out, looked at the two men, and seeing that they didn’t recognize them, Zhang Xiaobao asked in confusion: “You are…?”

“Little Young Master, Little Young Lady, I am Zhang Ying, and this is my younger brother Zhang Lang. We are the brothers Master Song once helped and took in.”

Zhang Xiaobao and the others didn’t recognize Zhang Ying, but Zhang Ying recognized them. He had memorized their portraits long ago.

Now Zhang Xiaobao remembered and happily nodded: “I know, I know. One trains eagles and one knows how to raise dogs. You really are the two of them. On your way here, did you run into danger? Come down, rest properly.”

“Little Young Master, Little Young Lady, we finally found you. It’s good that you’re safe. The family is worried, the court is worried. Little Young Master, Qian’en is injured, quickly let the doctor take a look. He cannot die of illness. Raising him wasn’t easy, and he killed many Tubo men along the way.”

Tears streamed from Zhang Lang’s eyes. Holding Qian’en, he leapt off the horse and placed the dog before Zhang Xiaobao.

Wang Juan was envious of their dog. It was fierce, but once held in its master’s arms and sensing his attitude, its eyes softened. A good dog, nearly as good as the one she saved on Luzhou Mountain. That dog relied on its own intelligence, while this one was trained.

Doctors quickly came to treat the dog’s wounds and stitch them, and also treated Zhang Ying and Zhang Lang’s injuries.

The horses were led away and hidden. While being treated, Zhang Ying and Zhang Lang recounted how they had traveled.

“Little Young Master, Little Young Lady, you two are incredible. First, under the name of the logistics camp, you went to reinforce the frontline, then led the large army across Jinchuan, annihilated over thirteen thousand enemies, escaped the Tubo encirclement, and disappeared. No one could find you. The family was both happy and worried.

Afraid the two of you lacked eyes and ears, they sent my brother and me. We received our orders and traveled through military posts. We arrived in Pengzhou seven days ago and spent seven days searching before finding you. Little Young Master, Little Young Lady, with Shuiyun here, we can definitely return safely. Shouldn’t we leave right away?”

Zhang Ying meant returning immediately—it was too dangerous to stay in Tubo territory.

“No rush to go home. I finally finished resting. Without teaching the Tubo a lesson, how could I face the people of Wangjiang? How did you two travel over those seven days? Where did you get the horses?” Wang Juan had no intention of leaving. 

When she took command of the troops, morale was already low, and their condition was awful. She could win battles even then. Now that they had rested, there was no way she would leave easily.

Hearing the young lady ask, Zhang Ying began describing how he and his younger brother ambushed the enemy during those seven days, how they searched, and continued all the way to how they were injured thirty li away.

A large group of people had gathered around to listen. Guo Tu and the others were also there. As they looked at the two wounded men before them and listened to their plain and emotionless storytelling, waves surged in their hearts.

Guo Tu glanced at the officers around him and whispered, “There isn’t a single normal person in the Zhang family.”

The officers all nodded in agreement. 

The Zhang family had sent out two children who could command troops to circle around the enemy twice and wipe out a huge number of Tubo men while suffering minimal losses. Fine—after all, such ruthless talents might not appear even once in a thousand years.

But now, look at the two Zhang family men who were sent—just two of them, in seven days, had killed two hundred ninety Tubo men and brought back two hundred eighty-five horses.

At this rate, who would need a main army? If the Zhang family casually sent two people out every few days for a stroll, the Tubo might not survive another year.

When Zhang Ying finished recounting his and his younger brother’s experiences, he noticed the gazes around them had changed, filled with respect and admiration. 

Huzi stepped forward, examined the two men, and grinned: “Good. Well done. You didn’t tarnish our reputation. Let the Tubo know that no one messes with the Zhang and Wang families. Otherwise, even if they’re a thousand li away, they’ll suffer retribution. Any one of us can take care of them. How much does your eagle cost? Get one for each of our Seedling Protection Team to raise for fun.”

What Huzi said earlier still sounded proper, but at the end he revealed his real intention.

Zhang Ying was straightforward and replied: “Eagles like Yunshui are rare. Ordinary eagles, from capture to being trained and useful, cost about six hundred guan. Cheaper if someone raises them themselves. If catching them doesn’t cost much, a few dozen guan can get you a hunting falcon. Mine is a battle eagle. It was raised specifically for the young master and young lady. From acquiring Shuiyun to being able to coordinate in battle, it cost more than a thousand guan. Shuiyun is larger than other eagles and can easily lift an adult into the air. When I came, I had already thought it through—if we were surrounded when I met the young master and young lady, I would have Shuiyun carry them out.”

As he spoke, Zhang Ying took several plaques from his pack and continued: “Shuiyun is very intelligent. It can fly to designated places. Each type of plaque comes in pairs. Once I reach a place with Shuiyun, I throw one plaque there. If I need Shuiyun to fly there by itself later, I just show it the matching plaque. Once it sees it, it knows where to go. From recognizing one plaque at the beginning to now recognizing six types. Shuiyun works very hard. Yizhou is too far from here, the mountains too high. I didn’t dare to throw plaques for others. I left one in Pengzhou. Shuiyun can return anytime.”

“Haha, the Tubo are finished now. Good eagle. Great service. Stay with us and kill enemies together.” Zhang Xiaobao laughed loudly, though his child’s voice carried no imposing force.

Wang Juan was also satisfied as she looked at Zhang Ying and Shuiyun. Of course, most satisfied of all was Song Jinggong. He was the one who had kept the two men back then—who could have imagined the nearly starved, ragged pair would possess such ability?

Wang Juan knew Shuiyun’s value. In these times with no advanced communication tools, Shuiyun could help transmit information back and forth. If Pengzhou found an opportunity to send troops, they would notify her side, allowing cooperation.

And Shuiyun’s reconnaissance ability—this was like the hot-air balloons of old, floating in the sky to direct movements, and like the earliest airplanes used for reconnaissance before they later developed into platforms for pistol shooting.

Wasn’t this essentially a simple military satellite? Forget one thousand guan—even a hundred thousand guan for one would be worth it.

After everyone finished rejoicing and being shocked, Zhang Ying took out an imperial edict from his chest and looked toward Guo Tu and the others. “Guo Tu, receive the edict.”

Guo Tu and the others froze, a bad feeling rising in their hearts.

Sure enough, the contents of the edict hit Guo Tu and the others hard. 

 Their official positions were removed, and they were ordered to return and accept punishment. Their positions were to be taken over by either Zhang Xiaobao or Wang Juan. If neither of them commanded troops and someone else did, that person would assume the role instead.

The edict was very clear: if one of the two—Wang Juan or Zhang Xiaobao—took the position, then besides inheriting this position of real power, they would also receive a military honorary rank of Zhenjun Grand General, a second-rank officer. If Zhang Xiaobao received it, then Wang Juan would be granted a second-rank noble title. If Wang Juan received it, the sixth-rank honorary title originally given to Zhang Xiaobao would become a second-rank civil honorary title, Jinzi Guanglu Dafu. As for all the clothing and ceremonial equipment, the two would prepare them themselves; no money or cloth would be awarded.

Guo Tu was both envious and afraid. He finally understood how much the court valued the two children. If the commander were anyone else, they would only get real power and would have to wait until returning for rewards. But when it came to the two children, second-rank honorary titles were handed out as if they were endless—one for each of them.

Envying others was useless. He could only think of his own situation.

Then Zhang Ying added: “There is also a spoken decree. Xiaobao, Juanjuan, you two brats hurry home. Gao Lishi wants to take Xiaobao as his adopted son. It will be handled once you return to the capital. Don’t run around outside. The mountains are windy, cold, and freezing. If you don’t behave, you’ll get beaten when you return.”

As soon as Zhang Ying said this, the people around them drew sharp breaths. 

Everyone was shocked at the emperor’s attitude toward the young master and young lady. Even to his own sons, the emperor might not speak like this.

Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan were also stunned. Neither expected Li Longji to have such a cute side.

“This Little Li is really not bad. Even if he is pretending, he rarely pretends with others. Once this spreads, I can act like a spoiled noble brat. Who would dare provoke me?” Xiaobao whispered to Wang Juan.

Wang Juan nodded. “Then all the more reason not to go back. That one sentence from Little Li is worth ten thousand Tubo soldiers’ heads. We can’t let him say it for nothing.”

Guo Tu was speechless. What kind of situation was this? 

Thinking of his own situation, he understood that without someone to speak for him, once he returned, he would be finished. He didn’t dare run—he couldn’t run. His family was still in the capital. And besides, even escaping the village was impossible.

The other side could send two random men and take him down. The eagle named Shuiyun was watching from the sky as well.

Thinking this, he turned his gaze toward Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan. He no longer wanted to seize power or take revenge. The emperor had personally said they should return quickly, even showing concern.

Wang Juan saw Guo Tu and the officers beside him looking over. 

She understood their meaning and said: “Zhang Ying, send a message to Pengzhou with Shuiyun now. Tell them about what happened here, and also mention General Guo and the others. Say that after the logistics camp met them, they cooperated very well and charged at the front when fighting the enemy.”